Washing-machine



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. W. HELDRETH & J. A. DIX. WASHING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 13,1891.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

J. W. HELDRETH & J. A. DIX.

WASHING MACHINE.

N0. 460,965. Patented Oct. 13,1891

IA .1 EA air 1R '2 5/1 1 M za m v I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IVINTER I'IELDRETII AND JAMES AMOS DIX, OF RURAL RETREAT, VIRGINIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,965, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed March 14, 1891. Serial No. 385079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, JOSEPH IVINTER HEL- DRETH and JAMES AMos DIX, citizens of the United States, residing at Rural Retreat, in

the county of Vythe and State of Virginia,

have invented a new and useful \Vashing- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in washing-machines of that class known as oscillating, and the objects of theinvention are to provide a cheap and simple machine, durable, easily accessible for the purpose of immersing and removing the articles, and easily operated.

Various other objects of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with our invention, the lid being raised. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. et is a detail in perspective of a washing-cylinder that may be employed when the machine is used for washing heavy articles. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of one of the fillingblocks.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Our suds-box consists of the opposite end walls 1, into which are let the opposite side walls 2, whereby the ends of the end walls extend beyond the external surfaces of the side walls. At intervals said end walls are connected by tie-rods 3, which rods also pass through pairs of legs at, said legs having their upper ends extending above the edges of the side walls and end wall. To the rear edge of the suds-box there is hinged, as at 5, a lid 6 of the usual construction. The two front legs of the box are connected by a longitudinallydisposed wringer-bar 7. To the inner surfaces of each of the end walls are secured short vertical strips 8, which receive at opposite sides longitudinal bars 9, which are comprised in a lower rubbing-frame 1.0. The rubbing-frame 10 consists of a series of longitudinal bars 9, heretofore mentioned, and are connected near their ends by concaved transverse perforated connectingbars 11. This frame 10 thus constructed is readily removable from the suds-box and is maintained in position by the guides and yieldingly supported by a series of coiled springs 12, located upon the bottom of the suds-box.

13 designates side rubbers, which are simply partitions having their inner faceslongitudinally corrugated, as shown, and provided at their opposite sides, near their lower ends, with trunnions 1 L, which are journaled in the end walls of the suds-box. Coiled springs 15 are interposed between the side walls of the box and the outer faces of the side rubbers and force the latter against stops 16, extending from the end walls, which prevent the side rubbers from passing beyond avertical position. In the upper edges of the end walls are formed open bearings 17, the opposite side walls of which are provided with guidegrooves 1 S. Filling bearing-blocks 19, having opposite ribs 20, are inserted in the bearingrecesses and are provided upon their under sides with grooves 21, which combine with the bottoms of the recesses 17 to form cylindrical bearings, which may be opened and closed by the removal and the insertion of the filling-blocks.

A shaft 22, the major length of which is square in cross-section, has its ends reduced to form cylindrical bearings or journals 23, which take bearing in the bearing-recesses of the suds-box. Between its bearings the shaft is provided with opposite semicircular heads 24, which are connected by a curved series of connectingrods 25, thereby constituting an oscillating rubber to cooperate with the bottom and two side rubbers.

The oscillating rubber herein described may be removed from the shaft, and in lieu of the same the rubber shown in Fig. 4 may be employed, which latter consists of opposite cross-bars 26, connected by rods 27.

Vhichever rubber is employed the shaft of the same is provided at one end beyond its bearing with a fly-wheel 2S and at its opposite end beyond its bearing with a small cog or gear 29. Bearings 30 are located upon the under side of the suds-box, and a shaft 31 is mounted for oscillation therein, and upon said shaft, at one end thereof, there is fixed upon the same a large segmental master-gear 32, operated by means of a handle 33, made fast to the shaft and gear, said master-gear serving as a means for communicating motion to the small gear 29.

In operation for ordinary purposes we employ the oscillating rubber illustrated in Fig;

1, while for heavy cases, such as quilts, cou-nterpanes, blankets, &c., We employ the rubber illustrated in Fig. 4. The articles to be washed are ordinarily introduced between the side rubbers and the oscillating rubber,

the former being readily pushed back, so as to permit of the insertion of the articles. A suitable quantity of water being placed in the suds-box and the lid closed, the Washer is in condition for operation, which is accomplished simply by a back-and-forth movement or oscillation of the operating-lever.

Having described our invention, what we claim is The combination, with the suds-box provided with the opposite vertical guides and the coiled springs located upon the bottom of the box, the lower rubbing-frame yieldingly mounted upon the springs and having recesses for the reception of the guides, a pair of opposite longitudinally-oorrugated parti- JOSEPH WINTER HEL'DRETH. JAMES AMOS DIX.

Witnesses:

WM. B. FOSTER, D. B. HOILMAN.

tions having formed at their opposite sides, 

